Vasil Kazandzhiev: the great Bulgarian composer and conductor, passed away. He was born on the 10th of September, in the town of Marten, Rousse oblast, in the family of intellectuals with an interest in music. When he was ten years old, he began playing the piano and made his first composing attempts when he was twelve. From 1948 till 1952, he studied composing under prof. Konstantin Iliev in Rousse. After graduating from the elite high school “Knyaz Boris I” in Rousse, he was admitted into the Sofia Conservatory in 1952, where he studied composing under Pancho Vladigerov and conducting under Vladi Simeonov. Among the authors who have influenced his work, are the two Bulgarian classics Pancho Vladigerov and Lyubomir Pipkov. With Kazandzhiev’s first opuses, he established himself as a bright and original author. After graduating in 1957, he was appointed as conductor at the Sofia Opera (1957-1964). During the period ranging from 1962 till 1978, he founded and led the Sofia chamber orchestra (called the “Sofia soloists” chamber ensemble today). Under his tutelage, the ensemble established itself as one of the leading orchestras in Bulgaria as well as on the international scene. From 1979 till 1993, he was chief conductor of the BNR Symphony orchestra.
Vasil Kazandzhiev has greatly contributed to the popularization of contemporary world and Bulgarian music in Bulgaria as well as to the popularization of our authors abroad. As a composer, he created 124 opuses in different genres: chamber music, symphony music, several ballets, three symphonies, several orchestral overtures, string and piano quartets and quintets, plays for wind and other instruments as well as music for many theatrical and film productions among which “Tobacco” (1962), “Shibil (1967), “The Boyana Master” (1980).
For the Sofia Opera stage, Vasil Kazandzhiev prepared and set a series of opera titles among which three Bulgarian classics: “Yana’s Nine Brothers” and “Antigona 43” by Lyubomir Pipkov, “Hitar Petar” by Veselin Stoyanov, “Ivailo” by Marin Goleminov.
Let’s remember Kazandzhiev not only as a great musician but also as a good man with a sense of humor who was loved and respected by all!
Ognyan STAMBOLIEV
